hack247http://www.hack247.co.uk
Hardware hacking, electronics, console modding and much more!Sun, 22 Dec 2013 00:40:47 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.1014410866New Coke Machine Hack – Free Drinks Using A Tape Measurehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Hack247/~3/58AF4xryw5E/
http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/new-coke-machine-hack-free-drinks-using-a-tape-measure/#respondWed, 27 Mar 2013 20:43:54 +0000http://www.hack247.co.uk/?post_type=blogpost&p=2479We have always had a thing for vending machine hacks, legalities aside there is something about seeing the latest little trick that is fun to watch. Using nothing more than a tape measure and some skilled hooking, watch this guy from Russia liberate a few canned drinks from a machine.

Granted its the vending machine operator who ultimately suffers and we are not condoning any such activities, still interesting to watch

]]>http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/new-coke-machine-hack-free-drinks-using-a-tape-measure/feed/02479http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/new-coke-machine-hack-free-drinks-using-a-tape-measure/Mesmerising video of iPad stand being milled on a CNC machinehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Hack247/~3/ngM47mtJmks/
http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/mesmerising-video-of-ipad-stand-being-milled-on-a-cnc-machine/#respondTue, 19 Mar 2013 23:57:19 +0000http://www.hack247.co.uk/?post_type=blogpost&p=2477If your a fan of watching things get made then you will enjoy this video of an iPad stand being milled out of a solid block of aluminum on a CNC machine. On the surface it might sound slightly boring but for some reason the video is slightly addictive and mesmerising at the same time

]]>http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/mesmerising-video-of-ipad-stand-being-milled-on-a-cnc-machine/feed/02477http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/mesmerising-video-of-ipad-stand-being-milled-on-a-cnc-machine/Tethercell – Bluetooth Enabled batteryhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Hack247/~3/LZZELbWZNTo/
http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/tethercell-bluetooth-enabled-battery/#respondTue, 19 Mar 2013 17:38:03 +0000http://www.hack247.co.uk/?post_type=blogpost&p=2476There can be little more infuriating than picking up the remote control for your TV and finding out the batteries have died, well the Tethercell could well be the answer. Its an AA battery sized plastic shell that incorporates a bluetooth module along with an AAA battery, this combination can then be inserted into any device that normally takes AA batteries.

Once installed, you can automatically sync with the device using either the Android or iPhone app. From here you are free to monitor, control or schedule your device. Seems like a well thought out and simple device which although slightly limited in terms of applications is still an interesting offering.

]]>http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/tethercell-bluetooth-enabled-battery/feed/02476http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/tethercell-bluetooth-enabled-battery/Cleaning A Vinyl Record With Wood Gluehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Hack247/~3/0sMngChxfWQ/
http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/clean-a-vinyl-record-with-wood-glue/#respondSat, 16 Mar 2013 22:28:40 +0000http://www.hack247.co.uk/?post_type=blogpost&p=2474For the DJ’s amongst you there can be nothing worse than a dirty record. Beer, ash and the dreaded ‘hand-ruff’ can all spell doom for the sound quality of vinyl records. Sure you can buy carbon cleaning brushes and dedicated cleaning machines but what if you are in a jam and need a quick cleaning technique? Well who would have though it but wood glue appears to have the answer

We don’t advise using this method for you previous and rare vinyl collection but if your a turntablist or in a tight spot then give it a whirl!

]]>http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/clean-a-vinyl-record-with-wood-glue/feed/02474http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/clean-a-vinyl-record-with-wood-glue/Forget ‘Will It Blend’ its all about ‘Will It Shred’http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Hack247/~3/US6R8NLE-0c/
http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/forget-will-it-blend-its-all-about-will-it-shred/#respondThu, 14 Mar 2013 09:37:48 +0000http://www.hack247.co.uk/?post_type=blogpost&p=2472Everybody has see the by now infamous viral ‘Will It Blend’ videos where company found Tom Dickson dons his white lab coat and introduces everyday items to his BlendTec Blender. Well following on from that theme the machine in the video below take things a step further and literally eats anything that’s thrown at it.

Its strangely mesmerizing and the tennis balls for some weird reason are a personal favorite of mine!

]]>http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/forget-will-it-blend-its-all-about-will-it-shred/feed/02472http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/forget-will-it-blend-its-all-about-will-it-shred/How Its Made – Magnetshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Hack247/~3/6N9oBfx3l8g/
http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/how-its-made-magnets/#respondWed, 13 Mar 2013 09:07:19 +0000http://www.hack247.co.uk/?post_type=blogpost&p=2471The long running Discovery Channel show ‘How It’s Made’ has taken us inside some of the most random manufacturing processes in the world. This particular segment takes us through the build process of magnets from mold casting all the way through to the final magnetisation process.

]]>http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/how-its-made-magnets/feed/02471http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/how-its-made-magnets/DIY Bespoke Under Stair Data Cabinethttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Hack247/~3/52D_0JoCcfs/
http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/diy-network-rack/#respondTue, 12 Mar 2013 11:33:18 +0000http://www.hack247.co.uk/?post_type=blogpost&p=2469Alex from oldtownhome.com has embarked on a project to trick out his house with over-blown tech projects usually reserved for the mansions of the rich and famous. After fitting his multi-room audio system and running thousands of feet of Ethernet cabling he was left with a bit of a rats nest of wiring in his basement. Although functional he knew he could get things looking tidier, in response he came up with this professional looking under-stair DIY server rack.

Built using 2×4 lumber with pre-drilled rack rails for the mounts the actual server enclosure section swings out to allow easy access to the rear. A few fans and LED strips later and Alex has managed to produce a professional looking custom rack that fits perfectly beneath his stairs.

]]>http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/diy-network-rack/feed/02469http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/diy-network-rack/Custom Front Panels without the Setup and Tooling Costshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Hack247/~3/VAbI2CjXTqk/
http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/custom-front-panels-without-the-setup-and-tooling-costs/#respondMon, 11 Mar 2013 09:00:48 +0000http://www.hack247.co.uk/?post_type=blogpost&p=2468Instead of having custom project case front panels created by an expensive panel making company, Mike from MikesElectricStuff has hit upon an incredibly simple idea. He has taken advantage of the fact that his PCB itself already offers silksreen printing and custom tooling but without any of the setup costs of a traditional front panel manufacturer.

There are a couple of small caveats however, one these being that to have squares cut you will need to over spec them slightly so corners will accommodate a square. The other small niggle is the fact that once the panel has been snapped out and the tabs de-burred you are left with a white edge. A quick run with a Sharpie marker fixes this problem.

If you are using the popular case shown in the video and having a PCB manufactured then this is a bit of a no-brainer!

]]>http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/custom-front-panels-without-the-setup-and-tooling-costs/feed/02468http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/custom-front-panels-without-the-setup-and-tooling-costs/Ultra Low-Tech DIY FM Radio Transmitterhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Hack247/~3/sbsydoLllyw/
http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/ultra-low-tech-diy-fm-radio-transmitter/#respondSun, 10 Mar 2013 14:46:45 +0000http://www.hack247.co.uk/?post_type=blogpost&p=2465An FM radio transmitter is a project that most fans of building circuits will have attempted at some point in their making career. What at first looks like a complex piece of equipment is, once you start putting one together, an amazingly simple bit of kit. Check out this ultra low-tech FM transmitter that imgur user MISTERALIEN put together using scavenged parts.

The PCB itself is made from a small section of copper tube which was hammered flat and polished, the components were then laid on top of tiny copper squared isolated from the PCB below with slithers of balsa wood. Throw is an old switch from a UPS and a cardboard box case, plug in your iPod and your transmitting!

]]>http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/ultra-low-tech-diy-fm-radio-transmitter/feed/02465http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/ultra-low-tech-diy-fm-radio-transmitter/DIY Logitech G27 Steering Wheel Buttonshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Hack247/~3/K2oGccpDVeY/
http://www.hack247.co.uk/blogpost/diy-logitech-g27-steering-wheel-buttons/#respondThu, 07 Mar 2013 10:28:56 +0000http://www.hack247.co.uk/?post_type=blogpost&p=2462A popular steering wheel controller for race fans seems to be the Logitech G27, it is a top-end (£250+) controller that features force feedback, paddle shifters, hand stitched leather and 16 programmable buttons. The problem is that only 6 of these buttons are on the wheel itself, imgur user benavery managed to solve this problem by adding 6 extra buttons and a toggle switch to the wheel.

Using a perspex sheet to mount all of the buttons he covered it with some eBay faux Carbon Fiber adheisive sheet. This turned out better than expected and the buttons really do look stock. The electronics are simple, a craigslist find USB joystick was used and new switches wired up to its contacts. This then just connects to the PC and is picked up as a second controller allowing him to program each of the buttons to do his bidding.